Emma Foster, Community Newswire, 29th October 2009

An East London charity presented its model for tackling the problem of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) to politicians at an event at Downing Street last night.

City Gateway told senior politicians and business representatives about its work in Tower Hamlets, which had reduced the number of NEET youngsters in the area, at an event at 11 Downing Street to celebrate the charity's 10th anniversary.

The charity said although the number of NEET 18 to 24-year-olds in England has risen in the past year, its work in Tower Hamlets had seen local figures drop from 15% of young people to 8% in just three years.

The charity has pioneered a close partnership model with businesses both in the City and at Canary Wharf, which sees regular volunteers supporting the project and disadvantaged young people taking apprenticeship work placements within multinational firms.

The charity's work has been described by New Statesman, as "A model which could transform society" and earlier this year at the Voice 09 conference, Conservative Leader David Cameron said: "I want to see more City Gateways come in, take this recession by the scruff of the neck and help get people into work."

Eddie Stride, the charity's chief executive, said: "City Gateway was founded by local business people who wanted to use their skills, and the resources of their companies and colleagues, to raise skill levels and empower individuals in Tower Hamlets.

"Despite great opportunities created by Canary Wharf and the Olympics, it remains classified as the third most deprived borough in the country and 23% of those of working age residents have no formal qualifications.

"Our work is having a real impact on individual lives and has started to turn statistics around, but there needs to be more support of third sector organisations across the country."

Speaking at the event, Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: "As we look to rebuild the economy's strength the Government has a duty to support those who have been hardest hit by the downturn.

"Working with organisations such as City Gateway we're not only able to directly support a solution to local problems, but we're also able to encourage private sector organisations to recognise the responsibilities they have to the local communities they operate in.

"The contribution of City Gateway is more valuable than ever in these times we're in and I think we should be particularly thankful to those companies who have been continually supportive of the organisation despite all the pressures of the recession."

Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Poplar and Canning Town, added: "The latest statistics in my part of Tower Hamlets demonstrate that we have three of the poorest 10 wards of anywhere in London, right across from Canary Wharf. It has improved dramatically over the past 10 years but the income per household is still lower than anywhere else.

"Canary Wharf provides great opportunities for our young people and the Olympics will be an added stimulus. Our kids are every bit as smart and intelligent as kids anywhere else in the country, we've got to give them the opportunities to get the qualifications, to get the jobs that will be available for the next 50 years.

"Some 80,000 are working on the Wharf now and it will grow to 140,000 over the next 10 years. Most of the companies relocated and brought all their staff with them. Well they're all going to retire and move on, they're going to create vacancies and our kids must get those jobs.

"The support you give to City Gateway to mentor and to give aspiration is so important I cannot tell you how critical it is. You're providing role models and guides, getting kids off the streets, off of drugs, out of gangs into an environment where they can express themselves and develop."

As well as corporate partnerships City Gateway offers disadvantaged young people and women one-to-one mentoring and runs programmes which engage them, train them and provide them with the skills and opportunities they need to enter the workplace.

It runs a women's project, a youth centre, a youth training facility and a social enterprise hub - offering disadvantaged individuals everything from community events and drop-in youth clubs through to apprenticeship schemes and the chance to develop their own business ideas.

For more information visit www.citygateway.org.uk.

http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6246848